Device for treating photographic sheet material



Feb. 12, 1963 R. B. MADDOCK ETAL DEVICE FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QOOQOOCD w A l M mr N T A A A u m {w N WW 0 T 6 H" F- .C T A l N E W1 8 0T HN 7 VLI MK HIM Lev a j 7/ "Mn 5 A o u u d w L w m M u N W W 6 u I o n I2 7 n u 4 m 2 W M .6 W! H M w o 8 q 5 Tw I w .1 TM 1 n z WM PM u m 3,077,155 DEVICE FGR TREA'EENG Pl-HG TQGRAPHC SHEET MATEREAL Ralph E. hiaddock Eugene (3. Winter, Minueapoli Minn, assiguors to fake orporation, Minneapolis, Minn.

Aug. 8, 196b, tier. No. 47,3 4 e (Claims. (@l. gfiilfi) The invention relates to an improvement in a device for reating photographic sheet material and more particularly to a device including a tank and holder for treating photographic sheet material.

In making photographic prints the film or plate after being exposed, is placed in a developing liquid, then transferred to at shortstop solution, then placed in a fixing solution and then placed in a washing liquid.

Prints must also be washed and washing has been done by immersing sheets in a tray of water, the water being changed by one means or another, and the various sheets manually separated so that fresh water reaches all the sheets.

Another method is to place the sheet material into a basket with the sheet supported on edge in a vertical position. The basket is placed in a tank and water is circulated into and out of the tank. Other methods have been developed of suspending the sheet material in washing Water. The present day means for washing have disadvantages of space required, as with trays, and baskets which have to be removed from the treating tank and opened. Space must be allowed for resting the basket to load and unload the same.

it is an object of this invention to provide a tank substantially rectangular in cross section and large enough to accept a reasonable number of th largest size sheets intended to be treated which also allows smaller sizes in greater numbers to he treated. The dev'ce has means for introdncin water into and draining water from the together with for creating air bubles at the bottom of the tank which rise and agitate the sheets allowing the fresh water to wash effectively and rapidly.

it is a further object to provide an open carrier frame which slips into the tank and the bottom edge of the sheet material rests on supports on the bottom frame member.

t is also an object to provide rib means in the tank projecting inwardly from the side walls and alternately positioned in staggered relation from side to side. it is a still further obiect to provide alternately spaced recesses in the upper and lower frame members which receive the rib means of tank to thereby hold the sheets out of a plane and impart self edge-supporting characteristics to the sheets. The top and bottom members of the carrier frame are of an open grid coustruction to facilitate movement of the frame in the water-tilled tank by providing less resistance thereto as the same are in the water. Further, the open rib construction allows water and air to pass during the treating cycle and also allows the frame to readily be removed.

it is also an object to provide a tank and sheet carrierfrarne which holds the sheets submerged and which allows retrieval of the sheets from the tank without removal of the entire carrier frame from the tank. The carrier frame need not be removed from the tank to place the sheets in the same. The carrier frame need only be partially removed from the tank to remove sheet material or to place sheet material therein. The sheets are easily separated Patented Feb. 12, 1963 after being placed in the carrier frame by partially lifting and lowering the same rapidly a few times. In the complete use of the device the carrier frame need not be ez1- tirely removed from the tank at any time.

it will not be here attempted to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referre to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a prefe'ied embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

in the drawings forming part of this application:

FlGURE 1 is a perspective view of the device with the carrier frame partially lifted from the tank with a. piece sheet material in position in the carrier, a portion of the tank being broken away.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the tank and carrier frame the frame in position in the tank.

FIGURE 3 is a reduced front view of the carrier frame removed from ths tank.

FEGURE 4 is a top plan View of the tank with the carrier frame removed.

FlGURE 5 is a sectional View of the carrier frame on the line 55-45 of FIGURE 7.

FiGURE 6 is an end view of the tank.

FEGURE 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tank and carrier frame, the latter being shown in lowered position, and a portion of the aspirator tube being broken away.

FlGURE 8 is a side elevational vi-w of the water inlet fitting which includes a combined vacuum breaker and air aspirator.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral lb designates a tank formed primarily of the side wall 22 and i i together with end walls to and its? and the bottom 29. The upper end of the tank is formed with an on larged portion 22". which extends transversely of and longitudinally throughout the length of the tank. The enlarged portion includes the fiangs portions 2 and 28 extending outwardly from the upper edges of walls 12 and 14 respectively, together with the upstanding short Wall portions 3% and respectively. The upper edges of the short walls 34 and 52 are formed with the lip portions 34; and 36, respectively.

Secured to the inner surface of the side wall l2 are the vertical spaced ribs 38, 40, 42 and i l, and similarly secured to the inner surface of the side wall 12 are the vertical space ribs 46, 4d, 5d and 52. The vertical ribs of one wall are not oppositely disposed with respect to those on the other but alternately positioned.

Further provided in the upper end of the end wall 16 is the notch 54 in which is positioned the tube portion 56 of the inlet elbow member 5a; which includes the combined vacuum breaker and air aspirator 6t} and which mounts the upper end 62 of the L-shaped tube 64. The end portion 62 terminates at its lower end in the horizontal tube portion 66 which has the multiplicity of perforations 63 formed on the underside thereof. The perforations 68 are spaced so that they distribute evenly air and liquid for uniform treatment of the sheet material. The tube portion 65 is positioned adjacent the bottom of the tank it). The tube portion 56 of the inlet elbow 58 mounts the Water inlet tubing 68. Formed on the wall 15 is the box-like extended housing '70 from which depends the short tube member 71 which mounts the outlet tubing 72.

Further provided is the carrier frame 7 4 which includes the vertically disposed end members 74 and 76 to which. are secured the open grid top and bottom members. 78 and 86, respectively. The grid formation of the top and bottom members is accomplished by means of the multiplicity of holes 82 formed through said members. The open grid formation of the top and bottom members. 78 and 89 allows easy insertion and removal of the car-- rier frame due to the lessening of resistance of the topand bottom members as the same are moved through the water. The grid formation also allows water and air to pass upwardly therethrough from the tube portion 66 of the L-shaped member 64. The top member- 78 of the frame 74 has formed on one edge thereof the spaced recesses 84, 86, 88 and 90 which are positioned so that the same slidably receive the ribs 4e, 5t} and 52, respectively. Formed on the opposite edge of the top member 78 are the spaced recesses 92, 94, 96 and 9d which are positioned so that the same slidably receive the ribs 38, 4t 42 and 44, respectively.

The bottom member 8d of the frame 74 has formed on one edge thereof the spaced recesses ltiti, 102, MM: and 1% which are positioned so that the same receive the ribs 52, 5t 48 and 4s, respectively. Formed on the p-- posite edge of the bottom member 8t are the spaced recesses M8, 110, 112 and 114 which are positioned so that the same slidably receive the ribs 44, 42, 4t and 38, respectively. When the carrier frame '74 is placed in the tank 10 the bottom of the same rests on the pair of spaced stop members M37 and 109 and the pair of spaced stop members 111 and 113, said stop members being secured to the walls 12 and 14-. The inner ends of the stop members are spaced so that the same grippingly engage the tube portion 66 of the L-shaped tube member 64 to maintain the same in position in the tank.

The carrier frame 74 is provided with a handle 116 which is used to insert the frame into the tank and remove the same from the tank and also to move the sheet material X up and down initially so that the same become separated. When it is desired to wash sheet material, such as X, in the tank 10, the carrier frame 74 is lifted partially from the tank It by means of handle 116 as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The sheet material may then be slipped into the tank It and the sheet is guided to the bottom of the frame 74 by the ribs formed on the inner surface of the walls 12. and 14. Due to the staggered positions of the ribs 46, 48, t and 52 with respect to the ribs 38, 4b, 42- and 44', the sheets of material are urged out of a plane thus giving a self edge supporting characteristic to the sheets.

The frame 74 is then fully lowered into the tank, and the same holds the sheet material submerged in the tank.

When the washing of the sheets is completed, the sheets may be easily removed from the tank by simply lifting on the handle 116 to thereby raise the carrier frame 74 out of the tank enough so that the sheets may be grasped and removed.

It will thus be seen that with the device presented herein the sheets of material may be placed in the tank or retrieved therefrom by manipulating the carrier frame '74 with the same still not entirely removed from the tank, and the sheets are held out of a single plane due to the ribs formed on the walls of the tank, see broken line Y in FIGURE 5. As the carrier frame is lowered into the tank the ribs slidably engage in the complementary recesses described heretofore.

The flow of water and air is in through the tube portion 56, through the vacuum braker and air aspirator 58,

into any suitable drain as illustrated by the arrows in FIGURE 7. The device may be placed on any supporting surface close to a water supply and a drain. No other work surface is needed for the sheet material is placed directly into the device, and the material-holding carrier frame does not require removal from the tank at any time for insertion or removal of the sheet material for treating.

The invention is not to be undestood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for treating photographic sheet material, a tank having opposed side walls, opposed end walls and a bottom wall, each of said side walls having spaced rib means extending vertically thereon, the rib means of one of said side walls being staggered relative to the rib means of said opposed side wall, a frame carrier member adapted to be positioned in said tank and having end members, top and bottom members and open sides, said top and bottom members having spaced recesses formed therein and corresponding with said spaced rib means, the former engageable with the latter when said carrier frame is positioned in said tank, whereby sheet material is urged out of a single plane when placed within said frame carrier member and in said tank and accessible when said frame is lifted only partially from said tank.

2. In a device for treating photographic sheet material, a tank having side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, opposed spaced rib means formed on said side walls in staggered relation, a carrier frame member having open sides with end members connected by top and bottom members, said top and bottom members only of said carrier frame having spaced recesses formed on the edges thereof adapted to cooperate with said spaced rib means when said carrier frame is slidably positioned into said tank to thereby hold sheet material out of a single plane when placed within said carrier frame and in said tank, the sheet material being accessible when said frame is lifted only partially from said tank.

3. In a device for treating photographic material, a tank having side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, a carrier frame having end members connected to top and bottom members and open sides, cooperating means formed on said side walls of said tank and said top and bottom members of said carrier frame for bolding sheet material out of a single plane when said carrier frame is positioned within said tank, sheet material in said frame being accessible when said frame is lifted only partially from said tank.

4. The device of claim 3 including removable water inlet tube having a horizontal leg portion and a vertical leg portion, said horizontal leg portion held free in the bottom of said tank beneath said bottom member of said carrier frame, said vertical leg of said inlet tube held in position between one of said end members of said carrier frame and one of said end walls of said tank.

5. In a device for treating photographic sheet material, a tank having side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, opposed spaced rib means formed on said side walls of said tank, a carrier frame member having a top and a bottom member connected by end members forming open sides, said top and bottom members of said carrier frame having spaced recesses formed on the edges thereof adapted to cooperate with said spaced rib means when said carrier frame is slidably positioned into said tank to hold sheet material upright in said tank and accessible when said frame is lifted only partially from said tank.

6. In a device for treating photographic sheet material, a tank having side walls, end walls and a bottom wall, at least one rib means formed on at least one, of said tank side walls, a carrier frame adapted to be positioned in said tank and having a top and bottom member connected by end members forming open sides, said top and bottom members of said carrier frame having at least one recess formed on at least one edge thereof for receiving said rib means of said tank side wall when said carrier frame is inserted in said tank whereby sheet material is urged out of a single plane when placed within said carrier frame and in said tank and accessible when said frame is lifted only partially from said tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1909 

3. IN A DEVICE FOR TREATING PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL, A TANK HAVING SIDE WALLS, END WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL, A CARRIER FRAME HAVING END MEMBERS CONNECTED TO TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS AND OPEN SIDES, COOPERATING MEANS FORMED ON SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID TANK AND SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS OF SAID CARRIER FRAME FOR HOLDING SHEET MATERIAL OUT OF A SINGLE PLANE WHEN SAID CARRIER FRAME IS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID TANK, SHEET MATERIAL IN SAID FRAME BEING ACCESSIBLE WHEN SAID FRAME IS LIFTED ONLY PARTIALLY FROM SAID TANK. 